Athlete of the Week

Week at a glance: Hou, Corning's No. 1 singles player, won four matches in four days. Three wins came in straight sets and the other was in three sets, the first time this season Hou lost a set.

Season at a glance: Hou improved to 12-0 this season with last week's effort, then ran her record to 13-0 with another straight-set victory Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to Horseheads that left Corning with a 7-7 record this season. Hou's combined varsity record in singles and doubles is 62-18.

Coach's perspective: "She's stronger than she's ever been and she's played a lot of smart tennis this year, using not only her power but her court vision, using the angles," Corning coach Tim Ball said.

Athlete's perspective: "It really means a lot, especially since it is my last year playing," Hou said of how well she's played. "It's really been just a blast. Not only do I want to be able to play well, but also just have fun on the court. ... Something that has really been helping me throughout the past couple of weeks is focusing on the strategy of the game more than brute force or power. Really that's just being able to read your opponent and place shots where you want them to go."

Historical perspective: Hou is a two-time qualifier for the New York state championships, advancing in doubles as an eighth-grader and freshman.

Off the court: Said Ball: "She has her hand in everything. She's an all-around kid. She's in the competition band, one of the editors of the yearbook, which is a big production at Corning High School. She's part of the Corning Inc. robotics team, which she does two or three times a week."